Blackened Fish Tacos

Buttery fish fillets encrusted with a perfect balance of herbs and spices star in these Blackened Fish Tacos. Wrapped in warm corn tortillas, topped with shredded cabbage and served with a creamy chipotle-lime sauce on the side, these tacos burst with flavor in every bite.

Table of Contents

• Quick & Easy Blackened Fish Taco Recipe
• What You’ll Need
• How to Make Blackened Fish Tacos
• Tips for Success
• Topping Ideas
• What Goes With Grilled Fish Tacos?
• Storing and Reheating Leftovers
• Get the Recipe

Quick & Easy Blackened Fish Taco Recipe

The thing that really sets these tacos apart is the way the fish is prepared. Cooking your fish in butter with a cast-iron skillet gives the fillets a beautifully crispy outside while keeping the inside moist and tender enough to fall apart in your mouth. And the cilantro lime sauce adds brightness and zest to round out the rich, savory flavor of the fish.

One of the best things about tacos is how easy they are to personalize. I love these with shredded purple cabbage and cotija cheese crumbles, but you can get as creative as you want with your fixings. When I host a taco party, I put out a variety of different toppings so that everyone can make them exactly how they like them.

What You’ll Need

Blackened fish tacos are seasoned with spices and herbs that you probably already have on hand. Find exact amounts for everything in the recipe card below.

For the Cilantro-Lime Sauce

• Lime Juice: Juice half a fresh lime, or substitute a small amount of bottled lime juice.
• Sour Cream: Or plain Greek yogurt.
• Mayonnaise: A bit of your favorite mayo adds creaminess and brings out the other flavors.
• Garlic Salt: If you don’t have this, mix a little garlic powder with regular salt.
• Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: These are available in cans on the international foods aisle of most grocery stores or on amazon: Chipotle Peppers In Adobo.
• Cilantro: Chopped. If you don’t like cilantro, you can substitute fresh parsley.

For the Blackened Fish

• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Onion Powder
• Cayenne Pepper: You can reduce or omit the cayenne for a less spicy dish, or add a little extra to bump up the heat.
• Dried Thyme
• Dried Oregano
• Dried Basil: If you dry your own herbs at home, make sure to chop them finely.
• Salt and Pepper
• Melted Butter: If you use salted butter, you may want to hold back on the added salt. 
• Fish: Cut your fish into 1-inch thick fillets.
• Olive Oil: For sautéing. 
• Corn Tortillas: Warm them up in the oven before assembling the tacos. Or, if you prefer, you can also use Flour Tortillas.

What Kind of Fish is Best for Tacos?

You can blacken just about any kind of fish! Salmon, cod, tilapia, or any other firm fish will work best. If you opt for frozen fish, be sure to thaw it in the fridge, and pat or squeeze it dry with paper towels before cooking it.

How to Make Blackened Fish Tacos

This recipe for blackened fish tacos is pretty straightforward. We’ll start with the sauce, then make the fish, and finally assemble the tacos.

1. Make the Taco Sauce: Blend together the lime juice, sour cream, mayo, garlic salt, chipotle pepper and chopped cilantro in a food processor or a blender. Blend the mixture until it reaches a smooth and even consistency. Place the sauce covered loosely in the fridge until everything else is ready to serve.
2. Season the Fish Fillets: Stir or whisk the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, salt and black pepper in any size mixing bowl. These make up your blackened seasoning. Melt the butter in a separate bowl. Gently dip the fish in the butter, and then coat it in the seasoning mixture. The butter should be spread evenly across the fillet so that the seasoning sticks.
3. Cook the Fish: Coat a cast-iron skillet with olive oil and set it on the stove over medium-high heat. Carefully lay the coated fish fillets into the hot skillet, and cook them for about 2 minutes on each side. When the fish is finished it should be crispy on the outside and flaky in the middle. The center of the fillet should be completely opaque.
4. Repeat: Take the blackened fish out of the skillet and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat the cooking process until all of the fillets are done. If the pan seems dry at any point, add a bit more oil between batches.
5. Assemble the Fish Tacos: Warm up the corn tortillas and fill each tortilla with the blackened fish and any toppings of your choice. Serve them immediately with sauce on the side.

Tips for Success

With only 30 minutes from start to finish, making blackened fish tacos is actually really easy. But if you’re new to blackening as a cooking method, check out these helpful tips.

• Customize the Seasoning: This seasoning blend isn’t set in stone, so customize it as you like. If you see an herb or spice that you don’t love, reduce the amount or leave it out. You can also increase or add ingredients! And if you don’t want to make your own seasoning, you can definitely use a store-bought mix instead.
• Fish Taco Sauce: This fish taco sauce is perfectly creamy and just a little spicy, but if you aren’t a fan of chipotle flavors, you can try this Cilantro Lime Dressing drizzled on top instead!
• Use Real Butter: While many blackening recipes leave out the butter or substitute oil, I really recommend using butter. The low smoke point of butter is part of what makes blackened fish smoky and charred to perfection. If you can’t use butter, though, no worries. The dish will still be great, and you can always add some smoked paprika for that extra hint of smoke.
• Smoke Alarm: Speaking of smoke, blackened fish or meats can produce quite a bit of it – maybe even enough to trigger your smoke alarm! It’s a good idea to turn on your stove’s ventilation fan before cooking, and open a window if things get cloudy during the sauté.

Topping Ideas

This meal wouldn’t be complete without some tempting taco fixings! Here are my favorite fresh ingredients that will take these tacos to the next level.

• Shredded Purple Cabbage: Chopping up some fresh purple cabbage can add a little extra crunch to your tacos.
• Fresh Cilantro: Lightly chop the leaves and make a bed of greens for your fish to lie on.
• Crumbled Cotija Cheese: For a sharper cheese, you can also try shredded cheddar.
• A Spritz of Lime: Squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice over the fish, or serve the tacos with lime wedges so people can add as much or as little as they want.
• Sliced Jalapeños: For some extra oomph, try putting jalapeño slices on top of your taco. Keep the seeds in for an even bigger kick.

What Goes With Grilled Fish Tacos?

There are so many tantalizing sides that help bring out the flavor of these blackened fish tacos. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Elote: Fresh corn on the cob slathered with crema and cotija cheese? Yes, please! This simple recipe for Elote (Mexican Street Corn) is one of the best.
• Fries: Who doesn’t love a side of fries? With a pop of sweetness to compliment the taco spices, you can’t beat Sweet Potato Fries. These beautifully seasoned fries offer a gorgeous color and buttery texture that fits right in with the blackened fish.
• Black Beans: Tacos just aren’t complete without these classic legumes. Try this hearty Black Bean Soup for a great way to add fiber, protein and flavor to your meal.
• Plantains: Both crispy fried Tostones or sweet pan-fried Maduros (sweet plantains) will go great with these fish tacos!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Because of their crispy outer coating, these fish tacos are best served right away. But if you have leftovers, don’t worry. You can store leftover blackened fish in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

To let the crust crisp up again, reheat the fish in a warmed skillet before making more tacos, but make sure you don’t cook them too long. The taco sauce can be prepared up to one week ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

More Easy Seafood Recipes

Looking for some more easy seafood recipes with lots of flavor? Here are a few more of my favorites:

• Cajun Shrimp Tacos
• Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
• Best Grilled Shrimp
• Air Fryer Shrimp Po Boys
• Creamy Thai Shrimp Bisque
• Crispy Salmon Patties
• Balsamic Roasted Salmon
• Shrimp Tacos With Slaw
• Air Fryer Salmon

Continue to Content

Yield: 6

Blackened Fish Tacos

Print

Buttery fish fillets encrusted with a perfect balance of herbs and spices star in these Blackened Fish Tacos. Wrapped in warm corn tortillas, topped with shredded cabbage and served with a creamy chipotle-lime sauce on the side, these tacos burst with flavor in every bite.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Taco Sauce

• ½ lime, juiced
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped

For the Blackened Fish

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 lbs white fish, cut into 1-inch thick fillets
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

For Serving

• Corn tortillas, warmed (or flour tortillas)
• Shredded purple cabbage
• Fresh cilantro, lightly chopped
• Cotija cheese, crumbled
• Lime wedges

Instructions

Make the Fish Taco Sauce

1. In a food processor or blender, blend together the lime juice, sour cream, mayo, garlic salt, chipotle pepper, and chopped cilantro. Blend until smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Make the Blackened Fish

1. In a large bowl, mix together the seasonings to make your blackening seasoning: garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
2. Place melted butter in a shallow bowl, and gently dip the fish pieces into the melted butter. Place them on a separate plate, and sprinkle generously on both sides with the blackening seasoning.
3. Coat a cast iron skillet with olive oil, and heat on medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated fish into the hot skillet, and saute for 2 minutes on each side, or until the fish is cooked and flaky in the middle. Take the cooked fish out of the skillet, and place on a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat this process until all of the fish have been cooked. Add more oil to the pan, if needed, between batches.

Assemble the Fish Tacos

1. Warm the corn tortillas, and fill each tortilla with cabbage shreds, blackened fish, fresh chopped cilantro, cotija cheese crumbles, and drizzle with the prepared taco sauce. Pair with lime wedges and serve immediately.

Notes

• To Store: Store fish up to 2 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Refrigerated sauce will stay fresh up to 1 week in a jar or airtight container.
• To Reheat: Warm fish in a covered skillet on low heat until heated through. Do not overcook.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 533Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 1403mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 39g

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